Richmond Hill E-Bike Shop Fire Hospitalizes Firefighter, Caused by Lithium-Ion Battery

Aug 22, 2024, 02:16 PM

A fire erupted at an e-bike shop in Richmond Hill, Queens, on Thursday morning, marking the second such incident at this location in less than two years. The FDNY Fire Marshals determined that the blaze at 102-44 Jamaica Avenue was caused by a lithium-ion battery, which was captured on video exploding into flames. The battery was not charging at the time of the incident. The fire resulted in the hospitalization of a firefighter and destroyed dozens of e-bikes. This incident highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of e-bike batteries, particularly in urban areas like New York City. In 2023, e-bike battery fires in the city resulted in 268 incidents, causing 150 injuries and 18 deaths. The fire underscores the importance of enforcing current e-bike battery laws and the need for more stringent legislation to prevent such tragedies.